Magazine cup dispenser



Oct. 11, 1932. Y. H VH, QLSEN 1,881,894

uAGAzINncUP bIsPENsEn 2 sheets-sheet .1

Filed Ilarch 8. 1950 Oct. 11, 1932.

H. H. OLSvEN MAGAZINEy CUP DI SPENSERA Filed march 8,1950

2 Sheets-A-lSheet 2 Patented oet. 11, 193g l l 1,881,894

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IInNnY n. oLsnN. or DETROIT. MICHIGAN, AssIeNon 'ro 'run A'ororoN'r COMPANY. or DETROIT. MICHIGAN, A Con-roaArIoN or MICHIGAN s MAGAZINE CUI DIsrENsnn y Application mea March s, 1930. serial No. 434,212.

My invention relates to cup dispensers and Figure 2 is a plan view of the dispenser concerns particularly the association with a and magazine structure; dispenser of an accessory in the form of a Figure 3 is an enlarged plan View of the magazine structure for supporting reserve dispenser and the mechamsm thereon for 5 stacks of internested cups and for automaticontrolling the setting of the escapement 55 cally, under control of the dispensing opera-l mechanism; and

tion, depositing a reserve stack in the 'dis- Fi re 4. is an enlarged side elevation of penser when the'cup supply in the dispenser the ispenser showing the escapement setreaches a certain predetermined minimum. ting controlling mechanism.

m An important object of the invention is I have shown my improved magazine ap- .o to provide a simple, compact, yet large ca plied to a well known type of drinking cup pacity magazine structure which can be read dispenser, as for example, a dispenser such ily applied to and associated with existing as disclosed in Luellen Patent 1,261,950, istypes of cup" dispensers. sued April 9, 1918. .Brie:ly, the dispenser A further Objectis to provide a stationary shown comprises a supporting frame having 05 magazine arranged to support a horizontal the rectangular body 1 through which exrow of reserve stacks of cups, and propulsion tends the circular dispensing passage 2. means on the magazine structure for shifting Mounted on a ring 3 surrounding and conthe row 'of cup stacks to bring the end stack centric with the opening 2 are the dispensing 2o into position where it may drop by gravity elements 4 whose ribs 5 project into the open- 70 into the dispenser. ing 2 for cooperation with the flanges of A lfurther object is to have the operation cups 8 to be dispensed. A lever 9 extends of the propulsion means on the magazine from the ring 3 and when this lever is swung structure independent of the power which horizontally the ring is rotated and the esactuates the cup dispensing mechanism of capement elements 4 are reciprocated so that 75 the cup dispenser, but to release such propultheir ribs 5 will cause the one-by-one dission mechanism for operation b the movepensing 0f cups fromA the lower end 0f the ment of the dispensing control lng mechacup stack disposed inthe dispenser, the lower msm. u end of the stack projecting into a skirt 10 3o A further obleot is' Pl'oVlde PI'oPuISlon depending from the frame body 1, through 8o mechanism which is spring actuated but norwhich Skirt the dispensed cup is guided to many held ,m Testamt, by Stop meohammv be received by the hand or to be deposited together Wlth meohanlsm olemted durlng upon a suitable support to 'be filled with a movement of the Cup dlspenslng mechamsln liquid dispensed from a dispensing machine u tlg; rlpofmlsags Awhich the cup dispenser may be associ- 85 a e propulsion mechanism a distance suiiicient The dispenser body l may also be provided with an annular vertical flange or extension plo cause deposit of the end stack into the 1s en er. stsill further object is to provide means 11 hir gmdmg the stack of c-ups to the als' whereby the number or' cups inthe dispenser Pensmg Pesage 2- determines the effective operation of the stop The megezme Structure framework com' setting mechanism, A prises transverse end bars 12 and 13 connect- The above enumerated and other features ed together by Dommel gulde rods 14 and 45 of the invention are incorporated in the strucl5. A kS Shown, these gulde rods are threaded 05 ture disclosed 0n the drawings, in which at their ends to extend through the b ars and drawings receive nuts 16 for securely clamping the Figure 1 is a side elevation of `a cup disbars and rods together. Between the ends of penser and a magazine structure associated bars 12 and 13 extends a longitudinal at 5o therewith; bar 17 which issecured at 1ts ends to the 10u end bars and assists the rods 14 and l5 in forming a rigid supporting frame work.

The rear ends of the walls 12 and 13 are deflected inwardly to form brackets 18 by means of which the supporting framework may be secured to a supporting wall, and an additional bracket structure 19 may be extended from an intermediate point of the longitudinal bar 17 to assist in supporting the framework and in holding the bar horizontal.

Mounted to slide along the guide rods 14 and 15 is a pusher structure P. The structure shown comprises the U-shaped runner members 20 and 2l whose legs have openings for receiving the rods 14 and 15 respectively. These runner members 20 and 2l are connectedy together by which between the runner members support the bar 24 which at its inner end has the upwardly projecting extension or arm 25, the bar24 and the arm 25 being above and li)n alignment with the longitudinal frame Near the inner-end of the magazine structure a bracket 26 extends downwardly from the bar 17 and supports the housing 27 in which is journalled the roller 28 for a pro-pulsion band or ribbon 29. The ribbon is guided around the rounded corner 26 of the bracket 26 and extends through an opening 30 in the bar 17 and then along the top of the bar and below the bar 24 of the push structure P, the end of the ribbon being then secured to a clip 31 fastened to the outer end of the bar 24 by a screw 32. A suitable spring 28 connects with the roller 28 and tends to rotate it to cause the exertion of tension or pull on the ribbon 29 and' this pull of the ribbon on the push frame P tendsto slide this frame inwardly along the guid-e rods 14 and 15.

Provision is made for the step by step advancement of the push-er structure P along the guide rods. This is accomplished by means of escapement lingers extending from an escapement shaft 33 journalled in the front ends of the walls 12 and 13 to extend parallel with the rods 14 and 15. Supported on the ribbon 29 and the bar 17 in front of the abutment arm 25 of the pusher structure is a row of stacks S of cups to be charged into the dispenser in a manner to be presently explained. I have shown five stacks and horizontally inwardly to be in front of the runner member 2O of th-e pusher structure so as to hold this structure at the outer end of its travel against the pull of the ribbon 29 by the spring actuated roller. 45

transverse plates 22 and23,

therefore provide five abutment fingers a,

advance until it strikes the abutmentlingerc which will have been brought into stopping positiomand so on. structure mayadvance step dispenser in alignment with the row'of recapement finger b intohori-- path of Yth'e'pushe'r- Thus the pusher i by step, and'dur-A ing such advancement the row of'reserve cup.v

may be secured together or the dispenserA e magazine structure may be securedA serve cup stacks on the magazine structure. Each advancement of the pusher structure will .then cause the end stack to be brought, l

into vertical position above the dispenser in'- let so that the stack may drop into` the dispenser.

The escapement operation for releasing the pusher structure for advancement is -conf trolled automatically during operation of the `and `at a time when thedispensing lever 9 supply of cups in the dispenser reaches a cer, l

tam predetermined movement of the end the dispenser, the inner end stacks from the shifted inwardly. The ends f and g ofthe guide plate are beveled and the end g deflects' diagonally downwardly a distance to assist in guiding the end stack into proper alignment with the dispenser. To prevent tampera guide plate 34 is mounted on of the bar 17 to receive thef y ribbon 29 as the stack rowpis.

minimum. To facilitate L stack into pos'1t1on over v llill ing with the magazine structure it may be ini closed by a suitable housing 35l whose inner section 35 may be semi-circular to receive the end cup stack discharged from the magazinev to hold it in vertical alignment and guide it i into the dispenser. f Describing now-the escapement operation controlling mechanism, a bracket 36 secured to the front side of the body 1 of the dispenser journals a horizontal shaft 37. Secured to this shaft is an arm 38 which extends upwardly and carries a flexible contact member 39 in the form of a spring bar .which has its end 40 deflected downwardly. At its outer end the shaft 37 supports a weighted lever 41 extending horizontally inwardly and sup'- porting an arm 42 which at its inner end is extended cam wing 43. The weighted lever 41 tends to swing downwardly to rotate the Shaft 37 and to swing the arm 38 inwardly to carry the contact spring end 40 radially across the top of the dispenser. When the cup stack in and diagonally deflected to form a' 1,881,894 I l l3 the dispenser projects above the level `of the spring end 40 such swing of the arm 38 will be prevented by the abutment of the spring end against the side of the stack. However, as soon as the stack in the dispenser diminishes and drops below thel spring end level, the sp-ring end will be free and then the weighted lever will cause rotation of the shaft 37 and inward swing of the arm 38.

The operating lever 9 for the dispenser extends laterally outwardly from the body 'l of the dispenser. Above the path of the lever-a bracket 44 is secured to the adjacent side of the dispenser body. This bracket journals the horizontal shaft 45 which is at right angles with the shaft 37. At its inner end the shaft 45 has secured thereto an abutment arm 46 which extends downwardly into the path of the dispensing lever 9 and 1s engaged by the lever when it is swung rearwar ly. Within the bracket 44 the shaft 45 has secured thereto an abutment arm 47 adapted at cer.

tain times to be in the path of the dispensing lever 9 when swung forwardly, the shaft 4 being then shifted forwardly when the lever engages with theabutment arm 47 and is shifted rearwardly when the dispensing lever engages with the abutment arm 46.

ecured to and extending upwardly. from the shaft 45 adjacent to the arm 47 is the cam lever 48 whose upper end is rounded and is in the path of the cam wing 43. When the weighted lever 41 is freed and swings downwardly, this cam wing will wipe against the end of the ca-m lever to swing it outwardly and thereby cause rotation of the shaft 45 to swing the abutment arm 47 inwardly into the path of the dispensing lever 9. The abutment lever 46 is weighted andupon rotation of the shaft 45 it is swung away from the vertical so that when the cam wlng is release from the cam lever and the lshaft is free the lever will assume its vertical osition to restore the shaft and the parts t ereon to normal position with the abutment arm 47 out of the path of the dispensing lever.

The front end of the shaft 45, outside of the bearing bracket 44, has secured thereto an L-shape arm 49 whose horizontal limb extends rearwardly over the bracket and pivots a pawl 50 having the beveled end 51 and the pull hook 52. A spring 53 on the arm 49 engages with the pawl and tends to swing it and hold it in upper position.

This pull pawl is adapted to engage with the pins 54 extending in axial direction from a ratchet disc 55 which is secured to the inner end of the escapement shaft 33 of the maga.- zine structure. The ratchet pins are arranged in a circumferential row concentric with the shaft and the pins are spaced apart 45, there being eight pins.

The pawl supporting arm I49, being secured to the shaft 45, will rotate therewith.

5 Normally when the arm 38 is held out by the of the push structure, and then the magazlne engagement' of the spring end 40 with ythe cups of the stack in the dispenser, and the cam wing 43 is released from the cam lever.

48, the weighted lever 46v holds the shaft with the pa l su porting arm49 swung laterally wi h t e pawl end out of operative position relative to the ratchet pins 54, as shown by dotted lines in Figures 2 and 4. However, when the spring end 40 is released, the weighted arm 41 becomes effective to apply the cam wing to the cam lever and then upon rotation `of the shaft 45 the abutment arm 47 is swung into the path of the dispensing lever and the pawl supporting arm 49 is swung to bring the pawl into the operation plane of the pms 54 so that when the dispensing lever is pulled forwardly, for v the purpose of dispensing a cup from the dispenser, the pawl hook will engag with one of the ratc et pins and will cause a 45 rotation of the ratchet disc so that by the corresponding rotation of the shaft 33 and the es capement lingers thereon 4the pusher 5 structure P will be released by one finger for a one step advancement until stopped by the next escapement finger which will have been brought to the stop position. As has already been explained, such advancement of the push structure and the reserve cup stacks thereon will cause the end stack to be shifted on the magazine structure and into position above the dispenser into which it drops to form a continuation of the stack remaining in the dispenser. As the reserve stack drops into the dispenser it passes along d to restore the shaft 45 and the pawl supporting arm 49 to normal position with the pawl arm out of engagement with the ratchet pins. As the dispensing lever is now swung back to its normal position it will engage with thelever 46 to cause the shaft 45 'to be shifted rearwardly to its normal position and then when the dispenser y again becomes empty and the cam wing engages with the cam lever, the shaft will be again rotated to bring the pawl, into operative position relative to the ratchet ins on the ratchet disc 55. It will be noted) that the stacks S, with the exception of the end stack, seat lon the ribbon 29 which pulls the push structure P. The stacks are thus carried with 'the ribbon and kept from frictional engagement with the bar 17 and will therefore beheld in upright position during shifting of the stack row by the pusher structure.

When the magazine is empty, the push structure P is pulled to its outer position and the shaft 33 is rotated to bring the end escaping finger a into horizontal position in front 100. the end 40 of the-contact spring and thereby vlso vso

Brleii' summing up Athe operation, the

` y '5. personv esiring to obtain a cup pulls the dis- 'pensing lever,9 forwardly-whereupon a cup ldrops from the dispenser. Where the dispenser is associated with a liquid dispenslng device the lever 9 may be connected with the operating mechanism of the de vi'ce to be automatically liquid. `Whilethe stack in the dispenser is abutment arm the dispensing lever.

the level ofthe top of the 'stack inthe dispenser falls below the range ofthe 'spring end 40 the weighted arm 41 becomes defective and the -cam wing 43, in its downward movement, wipes against the cam lever 48 to ro- 47 will be out of the path of However, as soon as tate the shaft 45 to bring the abutment arm '4 47 intothe path of the dispensing lever when it is swung forwardly. The shaft is lthen shifted with the dispensin pawl, which has been broug t into operative position, engages one ofthe ratchet pins and the shaft 33 is rotated to release the pushl mechanism which will then shift the row of cup stacks in the magazine one step inwardly f to discharge the end stack into the dispenser, and this end stack, when falling into position to form a continuation of the stack in the dispenser,- engages the spring end 40 and yswings the arm 38 to cause restoration of the connected parts to normal position and return of thel shaft 45 to normal position by the engagement of the dispensing lever with the abutment lever -46 when the dispensing lever is swungrearwardly.

Uponv forward swing of 4the dispensing lever when the dispenser needs replenishing, only the pawl mechanism and the escapement shaft 33 areoperated, the power for shifting the push mechanism and the magazine cup stacks being entirely independent of the power. exerted by swinging the dispensing lever, the spring operated propulsion means connected withv the push mechanism by the tape 29 automatically providing all the power for shifting: the magazine stack to replenishthe dispenser.

The magazine structure is simple, practical and efficient and can be economically manufactured. ItV can be used with equal eiiiciency with manually operated cup dispensers, or with cup dispensers associated with liquid dispensers and automatically operated by the operation of the liquid dispensing apparatus. n

Although I have shown one practical and etiicient embodiment of the 'various features of m invention, I do not desire to be lim- 65v ited thereto as changes and modifications can cup stacks, `sald support to shift said stacks thereon, a propulsion device connected swung at the proper time to dispense a cup for receiving the dispensedV abovethe range of thel spring end 40 ther lever, and the4 be made without departing from the principles and sco e of the invention.

I claim as ollows:

replenishing magazine for cup dispensers, includin the operating mechanism therefor, comprislng a support` for a row of a pusher structure movable on with and tendingto move said pusher structure, a rotatable shaft, escapement fingers offset circum-l ferentially on said shaft' and spaced longitudinally thereon for successive stop engagement with said pusher structure and for cony trolling the step by step advancement of4 said stack row by said pusher structure when said shaft is rotated, and means linked to the cup dispenser operating mechanism for ro-' tating -said lshaft one step at a time at predetermined intervals relative to the opera-` 1 tion of the 4cup dispenser mechanism.

2. Areplenishing magazine for cup dis-v pensers, including the operating mechanism thereforcompris1ng a support for a row of cup stacks, a pusher structure movable ont sald support to shift said stacks thereon, a spring actuated Apropulsion device connected wit and tending to move said pusher structure, a rotatable shaft, escapement fin` gers offset circumferentially on said shaft 91 and spaced longitudinally thereon for sucf cessive stop engagement with said pusher structure and for controlling the step by step advancement of said stack row by said pushl er structure when said shaft is rotated, and 1( means linked' to the cup dispenser operating mechanism for rotating said shaft one step at a time at predetermined intervals relative to the operation of the cup dispenser mechanism. 10

3. A replenishing magazine for cup dispensers, including the operating mechanism therefor, comprising a support for a row of cup stacks, a pusher structure movable on said vsupport to shift said stacks thereon, a 11| spring roller mounted on said support and having a tension member extendedV therefroml and connected to said pusher structure, a rotatable shaft, `escapement fingers offset circumferentiall on said shaft and spaced lon- 11i gitudinally tliereon for successive stop engagement withv said pusher structure and for controlling the step by step advancement of said stack row by said pusher structure when said .shaft is rotated, and means linked to 12,0 the cup dispenser operating mechanism for rotating said shaft one step at a time at predetermined intervals relative to the operation of the cup dispenser mechanism.

4. A replenishing magazine for cup dis- '125 penserscomprising a guideway for a row of cup stacks, a pusher structure movable on said guideway and engaging the outer end of said row, a spring roller mounted adjacent to said guidewaya ribbon extending ifi from said roller .along said guideway and secured to said pusher structure to propel said structure, said stacks being seated on to be supported in upright position by said ribbon, and escapement means for controlling the movement of said pusher structure by said spring roller and ribbon.

5. The combination with a cup vdispenser comprising a supporting Jframe for a stack of cups to be dispensed, dispensing mechanism for dispensing cups one at a time from said stack, and a dispensing lever controlling the operation of said dispensing mechanism, of a magazine structure comprising a supporting frame, a carrier structure on said frame for supporting a row of cup stacks', a propulsion device on said frame connected with said carrier structure for moving said carrier structure on said frame, restraining means on said frame for restraining movement of said carrier by said propulsion means to a step by step advancement, actuating mechanism operable by the movement of said dispensing lever to set said restraining means, and means controlled by the numberof cups in said dispenser for determining the operation of saidv actuating mechanism y said dispensing lever.

6. The combination with a cup dispenser comprising a supporting frame for a stack of cups to be dispensed, dispensing mechanism controlling the one-by-one dispensing of cups from said stack, and a dispensing lever for actuating said dispensing mechanism, of a magazine structure comprising a supporting frame, a carrier structure on said frame for a row of cup stacks, a propulsion device on said magazine frame for said carrier structure, esca ment mechanism on said magazine frame ment of said carrier structure by said propul- -sion device to a -step by step advancement, means whereby advancement will cause the end stack of the row to be discharged from said magazine into said dispenser, setting from said dispenserz ment mechanism by said step advancement of n or restraining the move- 4scribed my naine at Detroit, Wayne automatically controlled by the level of thev cup stack in said dispenser for I setting mechanism operative by sai pensing lever, and means where y each advancement of said stack will deposit the end stack of the row into said dispenser, pulsion device operating inde dently. of

renderin said en the power applied to swing said dispensing lever.

8. The combination with a cup dispenser comprising dispensing mechanism for controlling the dispensing of cups one by one and a` dispensing lever mechanism, of a replenishing magazine, sai magazine comprising a supportin frame, a carrier o n sai frame for a row o cup stacks, propulsion mechanism on said frame for movin sai carrier, an escapement shaft on said rame, escapement lingers spaced longitudinally and offset circumferentially on said shaft to cooperate with said carrier structure to restrict the movement thereof by said propulsion mechanism to a step by stepadvancement, a ratchet member on said shaft2 setting mechanism on said dispenser comprising a pawl for cooperating with said ratchet. mechanism, said setting mechanism being normally out of the range of movement of said dispensing lever, and means controlled by the number of cups in said dispenser for adapting operation of said setting mechanism by said dispensing lever, operation of said setting mechanism by said lever-.causing setting of the escapepawl and ratchet for actuating said dispensin mechanism for a one said carrier by said propulsion mechanism, and means whereby such advancement will discharge the end stack of said row from the magazine into said dispenser.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- County, Michigan. HENRY H. OLSEN.

mechanism for said escapement mechanism operable upon movement of said dispensing l lever, and means controlled by the number of cups in said dispenser for controlling the adjustment of said setting mechanism for operation by said dispensing lever.

7. Thecombination with a cup dispenser having cup dis ensing mechanism and a dispensing lever or actuating said dispensin mechanism, of a replenishing magazine, sa'

magazine comprising a frame foi' supporting a row of cup stacks, means vfor shifting said -row on said frame,

a propulsion device for actuating said shifting means, an escapement means on said frame for restraining movement of said shifting means by said propulsion means to a step by step advancement of said row, setting mechanism for said escapement means a apted to be actuated upon movement of said dispensing lever, means disl said pro- 

